3M's Optical Systems division is making a optically clear barrier films that protect sensitive electronics from water vapour and oxygen commercially available for the first time.
This could have implications for the future commercial production of OLED displays which rely on use of barrier films to prevent water ingress.
3M FTB3-50 and FTB3-125 are flexible,transparent,barrier films which previously had been sold primarily under limited research-and-development agreements.
"Many new technologies incorporate organic electronics or other components that need protection from water vapour and oxygen,"said Art Lathrop,marketing manager for 3M Optical Systems division."FTB3 provides superior protection from those and other contaminants while at the same time it is thinner,lighter,more flexible and more impact resistant than glass,"said Lathrop.
According to Lathrop,the film could enable new form factors for electronic devices because it offers"from two to three orders of magnitude better protection from water vapour than packaging grade barrier films."
The film has a water vapour transfer rate of less than 1x10-3 grams per square meter per day at 20°C.It also has insulating qualities.
"Unlike metal foils,the barrier layer in FTB3 doesn't conduct electricity,"said Dr.Fred McCormick,senior research specialist within Optical Systems.
FTB3 consists of a base polyester layer(50-125 microns thick)with a very thin(less than 2.0 microns)barrier coating made up of layers of polymer and oxide.
It is currently available in 300 mm-wide rolls.Wider rolls will be available in the second quarter of 2012.Additionally,3M is developing a range of barrier films using different substrates,additional film layers,and even higher barrier performance for applications ranging from solar panels to electrophoretic,electrochromic,and OLED displays.
